Man busted in NYC with $5 million worth of fentanyl in SUV’s ‘hidden’ gas tank: police
Fentanyl believed to have come from Mexico, DEA says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A resident of Columbus, Ohio, was arrested in New York City on Sunday with $5 million worth of fentanyl hidden inside the gas tank of an SUV, authorities said Wednesday.
Enrique Perez, 44, was driving a red Ford Expedition with a Texas license plate through the Bronx when authorities conducting a short-term surveillance investigation stopped the vehicle, the Drug Enforcement Administration said.
A New York City police dog alerted officers and agents to the presence of narcotics inside the SUV, but they were initially unable to find any drugs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}During an inspection of Perez’s phone, authorities said they found photographs of "bundles of cash" and what appeared to be a secret access point to the SUV’s gas tank from inside the vehicle.
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Agents uncovered the hidden access point beneath the vehicle’s rear floor and found about 300,000 blue fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of powdered fentanyl inside vacuum-sealed packages that were submerged in the vehicle’s gas tank.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Investigators discovered a hidden access panel to the SUV's gas tank beneath the rear floor of the vehicle. (Drug Enforcement Administration)
The narcotics have an estimated street value of $5 million.
Investigators said the seized fentanyl is believed to have come from Mexico. The investigation determined that the vehicle has crossed the U.S.-Mexico border multiple times.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Perez was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees. His bail was set at $200,000.